# Chris Noth
**Chris Noth** (full name Christopher David Noth; born 1954 in [Madison, Wisconsin](https://www.edgepedia.org/madison-wisconsin)) is an American actor best known for three television roles: Detective Mike Logan on *Law & Order* (1990–1995) and *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2005–2008), John James "Mr. Big" Preston on HBO's *Sex and the City* (1998–2004), and Peter Florrick on CBS's *The Good Wife* (2009–2016).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chris_noth) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) In December 2021 he was accused of sexual assault by multiple women, which he denies; the accusations led to his removal from CBS's *The Equalizer* and from the *Sex and the City* revival *And Just Like That...*[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/chris-noth-fired-cbs-the-equalizer-sexual-assault-allegations/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954, Madison, Wisconsin[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chris_noth) |
| Training | Marlboro College; M.F.A., Yale School of Drama, 1985; studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/noth-chris-1957) |
| Defining roles | Detective Mike Logan (*Law & Order*, 1990–1995; *Criminal Intent*, 2005–2008); Mr. Big (*Sex and the City*, 1998–2004); Peter Florrick (*The Good Wife*, 2009–2016)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) |
| Law & Order record | 111 episodes as Mike Logan between 1990 and 1995[5](https://tv.apple.com/id/person/chris-noth/umc.cpc.6q1sgc20wsjnfshlbmzah4c61) |
| Awards | Theatre World Award, 2001, for *The Best Man*; Golden Globe nominations in 2000 (*Sex and the City*) and 2011 (*The Good Wife*)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/noth-chris-1957) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chris-noth/) |
| 2021 allegations | Three women accused him of sexual assault; he denied them and lost his *Equalizer* role after 17 episodes[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/chris-noth-fired-cbs-the-equalizer-sexual-assault-allegations/) • [7](https://www.tvline.com/interviews/chris-noth-first-interview-sexual-assault-allegations-equalizer-exit-1235024553/) |
| Other ventures | Owner of the Cutting Room nightclub in New York City; face and majority shareholder of Ambhar Tequila[8](https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2020/07/the-big-interview-chris-noth/) |
## Early life and training
Noth was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the youngest of three brothers born to Jeanne Parr, a CBS news reporter, and Charles Noth. His father died when [Christopher](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher) was eight, and he spent parts of his childhood living in England, Yugoslavia, and Spain.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chris-noth/) • [9](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/chris-noth/6730/)
He studied at [Marlboro College](https://www.edgepedia.org/marlboro-college) in Vermont and then at the [Yale School of Drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/yale-school-of-drama), graduating in 1985; he had earlier studied acting with [Sanford Meisner](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanford-meisner) at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/noth-chris-1957) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636562/bio/) While at Yale he performed in productions including *The Lower Depths* (1982–1983), *A Play of Giants* (1984), and *Rum and Coke* (1985).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) Noth has said he considers theater his first love and has regularly appeared on stage since graduating.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636562/bio/)
## Law & Order and early work
His early screen work included small parts in films such as *Smithereens* (1982) and *Baby Boom* (1987), a recurring role as Officer Ron Lipsky on *Hill Street Blues* in 1986, and a lead role in the Indonesian film *Peluru dan Wanita* (1988).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) • [9](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/chris-noth/6730/)
In 1990 Noth joined the original cast of NBC's *Law & Order* as Detective Mike Logan, appearing in 111 episodes over five seasons.[5](https://tv.apple.com/id/person/chris-noth/umc.cpc.6q1sgc20wsjnfshlbmzah4c61) • [11](https://lawandorder.fandom.com/wiki/Chris_Noth) His contract was not renewed at the end of the fifth season in 1995, with the departure widely reported as having been less than amicable; producer [Dick Wolf](https://www.edgepedia.org/dick-wolf)'s stated reasoning, per episode documentation, was that the interplay between Logan and the jaded [Lennie Briscoe](https://www.edgepedia.org/lennie-briscoe) lacked dramatic contrast.[11](https://lawandorder.fandom.com/wiki/Chris_Noth) • [12](https://www.deseret.com/1998/11/8/19410769/exiled/) In 1998 Noth reprised Logan in the NBC television movie *Exiled: A Law & Order Movie*, for which he co-wrote the story, and later played the character for three seasons of *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2005–2008).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) • [13](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1998/11/08/exiled-it-ought-to-be/a6fd4b2d-d0a0-44f7-af50-15f4cfc69fcf/)
## Mr. Big and Sex and the City
Between the two *Law & Order* stints Noth took the role that became his signature part: Mr. Big, the wealthy, commitment-phobic love interest of [Carrie Bradshaw](https://www.edgepedia.org/carrie-bradshaw) ([Sarah Jessica Parker](https://www.edgepedia.org/sarah-jessica-parker)) on HBO's *Sex and the City* (1998–2004). He held the role across all six seasons and reprised it in the feature films *Sex and the City* (2008) and *Sex and the City 2* (2010).[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chris-noth/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) The performance brought a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor in a series in 2000.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/noth-chris-1957)
His film work during these years included *Cast Away* (2000), *Mr. 3000* (2004), and *The Perfect Man* (2005).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chris_noth)
## Later television and theater work
**The Good Wife and beyond.** From 2009 to 2016 Noth played Peter Florrick, the scandal-plagued politician husband of [Julianna Margulies](https://www.edgepedia.org/julianna-margulies)'s Alicia Florrick, on CBS's *The Good Wife*; the role earned him a second Golden Globe nomination in 2011.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) • [14](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636562/) Later television credits included *Tyrant* (2016), *Manhunt: Unabomber* (2017), *Gone* (2017–2018), a guest role as Jack Robertson in *Doctor Who* (2018, reprised in the 2021 special *Revolution of the Daleks*), and [William Bishop](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-bishop) in the CBS reboot *The Equalizer* (2021).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/)
**Theater.** Noth made his Broadway debut in [Gore Vidal](https://www.edgepedia.org/gore-vidal)'s *The Best Man* (2000), playing Senator Joseph Cantwell, and won a Theatre World Award for the performance.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/noth-chris-1957) Other stage credits include the [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) premiere of [Beau Willimon](https://www.edgepedia.org/beau-willimon)'s *Farragut North* (2008) and its Geffen Playhouse run (2009) with Chris Pine, the Broadway revival of *That Championship Season* (2011), and the title role in *Doctor Faustus* at Classic Stage Company (2015); reviews of the last were mixed, with several critics judging his performance underpowered.[15](https://playbill.com/article/farragut-north-backstage-political-tale-with-noth-and-gallagher-begins-in-nyc-com-154471) • [16](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jun/18/doctor-faustus-review-marlowe-chris-noth)
## 2021 sexual assault allegations and aftermath
Days after *And Just Like That...*, the *Sex and the City* revival, premiered in December 2021, two women using the pseudonyms Zoe and Lily told [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hollywood-reporter) that Noth had sexually assaulted them in Los Angeles in 2004 and New York City in 2015; a third woman later came forward to the Daily Beast. Noth denied the allegations in a statement calling the accounts "categorically false" and the encounters consensual.[7](https://www.tvline.com/interviews/chris-noth-first-interview-sexual-assault-allegations-equalizer-exit-1235024553/) • [17](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/chris-noth-sex-and-the-city-rape-b1977837.html)
The professional consequences followed quickly. CBS and Universal Television ended his series-regular role on *The Equalizer*, effective immediately, after 17 episodes; his talent agency, A3 Artists Agency, dropped him; Peloton pulled an advertisement in which he appeared; and plans to reunite his character with Carrie Bradshaw in the *And Just Like That...* first-season finale were scrapped, with most of his material removed from the series.[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/chris-noth-fired-cbs-the-equalizer-sexual-assault-allegations/) • [7](https://www.tvline.com/interviews/chris-noth-first-interview-sexual-assault-allegations-equalizer-exit-1235024553/) • [18](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-01-22/chris-noth-sobre-el-fin-de-su-amistad-con-sarah-jessica-parker-tras-ser-acusado-de-agresion-sexual-fue-triste-fue-decepcionante-fue-sorprendente.html) The Los Angeles Police Department stated in December 2021 that no report had been filed in the case and no investigation was underway.[17](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/chris-noth-sex-and-the-city-rape-b1977837.html)
In a 2023 interview with USA Today, Noth again denied the assault allegations but admitted infidelity, saying "I strayed on my wife, and it's devastating to her... What it isn't is a crime."[19](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-08-08/chris-noth-admits-cheating-denies-sexual-assault-allegations) He later said his friendships with Sarah Jessica Parker and his other *Sex and the City* co-stars ended after Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis issued a joint statement supporting the accusers without contacting him first; he characterized the statement as "brand management."[20](https://www.thedailybeast.com/sex-and-the-city-star-reveals-what-caused-sarah-jessica-parker-feud/)
## References
1. [Chris Noth Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chris_noth)
2. [Chris Noth – Broadway & Theatre Credits, Bio, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Chris-Noth/)
3. [Chris Noth pulled from CBS' "The Equalizer" amid sexual assault allegations, CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/chris-noth-fired-cbs-the-equalizer-sexual-assault-allegations/)
4. [Noth, Chris, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/noth-chris-1957)
5. [Chris Noth Films and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/id/person/chris-noth/umc.cpc.6q1sgc20wsjnfshlbmzah4c61)
6. [Chris Noth – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chris-noth/)
7. [Chris Noth Gives First Interview Following Sexual Assault Allegations, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/interviews/chris-noth-first-interview-sexual-assault-allegations-equalizer-exit-1235024553/)
8. [The big interview: Chris Noth, The Spirits Business](https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2020/07/the-big-interview-chris-noth/)
9. [Chris Noth biography and filmography, Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/chris-noth/6730/)
10. [Chris Noth – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636562/bio/)
11. [Chris Noth, Law and Order Fandom](https://lawandorder.fandom.com/wiki/Chris_Noth)
12. [Exiled, Deseret News](https://www.deseret.com/1998/11/8/19410769/exiled/)
13. ['EXILED': IT OUGHT TO BE, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1998/11/08/exiled-it-ought-to-be/a6fd4b2d-d0a0-44f7-af50-15f4cfc69fcf/)
14. [Chris Noth, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636562/)
15. [Farragut North Begins in NYC, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/farragut-north-backstage-political-tale-with-noth-and-gallagher-begins-in-nyc-com-154471)
16. [Doctor Faustus review, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jun/18/doctor-faustus-review-marlowe-chris-noth)
17. [No current investigation into Chris Noth sexual assault allegations, LAPD says, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/chris-noth-sex-and-the-city-rape-b1977837.html)
18. [Chris Noth, sobre el fin de su amistad con Sarah Jessica Parker, El País](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-01-22/chris-noth-sobre-el-fin-de-su-amistad-con-sarah-jessica-parker-tras-ser-acusado-de-agresion-sexual-fue-triste-fue-decepcionante-fue-sorprendente.html)
19. [Chris Noth admits cheating but denies sexual assault allegations, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-08-08/chris-noth-admits-cheating-denies-sexual-assault-allegations)
20. ['Sex and the City' Star Reveals What Caused Sarah Jessica Parker Feud, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/sex-and-the-city-star-reveals-what-caused-sarah-jessica-parker-feud/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Mo to N*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license